oh no....TSB-0171-16 Driveline vibration

+2. I'm taking my 19 SR5 in for its 5000-mi maintenance on Tuesday and I'd like to have a copy of the TSB with me if I can. I'd say that my driveline vibration is probably "moderate" (just basically annoying), but I'd still like to get rid of it (along with a host of other minor but annoying defects: surging/rough idle, ridiculous shifting patters that cause the engine to lug, hard downshifts when decelerating, etc.).

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I have a super weird vibration almost grinding sensation going on right now that Toyota is trying to figure out. 2019 trd or manual trans with about 1,500 miles on it and in 3rd gear from 35 to 40 mph but worse at 38/39mph it does this vibrating feeling in the steering & chassis. It'll make the seats move and stuff starts rattling. As soon as you push the clutch in or put it in 4th gear at the same speeds its smooth as butter. Same rpms in any other gear also smooth. It's very weird.

 

Just an update on my 5000-mile visit to the dealer:

• TSB-0071-19 doesn't apply to my VIN number and later, which means that my vehicle probably already has the fixes called for in that TSB, which means the drive line vibration I have is what's left over after the fix is done. Ugh. I don't like it, but apparently there's nothing I can do about it.
• The tendency to shift into lower gears at low speeds is not a "bug," it's a "feature." The mechanic said "everyone hates the way it drives," but it's done for gas mileage. The vehicle drives way better with ECT engaged, but there's no authorized way to turn on ECT permanently.
• The tendency to downshift abruptly is intentional. Again, there's nothing one can do about it.
• For both of the above issues, the mechanic was not familiar with the private party options to reprogram the shift points, but said he's not aware of any factory-authorized alternatives.
• I also have a problem with rapid/surging idle on startup and rough idle after the engine is warm. The mechanic couldn't duplicate the issue exactly, but said that the fast idle on startup is probably part of the design to bring the various sensors and control features up to temperature rapidly for emissions control and is not a defect.

Overall, all of the elements of the car that are annoying are either intentional or unfixable. I got a zero-down/zero-APR financing package on the vehicle, so I'm pretty much upside down on its value right now. But the car is so mediocre is all respects that I'm pretty sure once the numbers improve, I'll get rid of it and trade it in on a Ranger or Colorado. I can live with it in the meantime, and maybe I'll get used to substandard design and engineering. Or maybe not. Very disappointing.

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I’ve got a weird clunking...thing when I brake but it feels almost like it’s the rear diff? Is kind of what this is talking about?

 

Got my 2020 just last week and almost the same issue as my 2013. I think Rotors are already warped which then gives me the slight vibrations when I’m braking from high speed.

The only thing that fixed my 2013 issue was I went and replaced the rotors with powerstop

 

I've been meaning to post for awhile now but haven't found the time. I've had a few issues and could use your collective thoughts. Here's my experience so far with my 2017 TRD Sport..automatic. Stock truck except for the BFG KO2s...

About 2 weeks after bringing it home Sept 1 2017 I had to take it in for a pinched passenger side body mount bushing...and a leaking strut...it was clunking around. Easily fixed. Now fine. Feelin' pretty good still.

Spring 2018 my leafs started squeaking like mad. Annoying but again, easy fix. Kind of silly but fine. Still feelin good.

Summer 2018 weird groan mostly in reverse but also occasionally moving forward. U-joints...that now can't be greased...got bad enough and took so long to get the parts ordered that the dealer replaced the whole rear drive shaft. Yikes. All replaced under warranty of course but starting to doubt my choices. Fixed. A bit shuddery at 80km/h (50mph) but could maybe be the shitty roads here I figured. Started to notice some vibes. Not super loving it...

Spring 2019, noticed a weird sensation while turning hard left at very low speed, especially after I straightened out and drove forward a few feet. Like a repeated popping feeling through the steering column...maybe the intermediate shaft like my old 2013 SR5 I wondered. No sound to speak of. It was driving me nuts. Would come and go at will. Seemed to be coming from driver front if I had to guess. Took it in and they couldn't reproduce it. So I took a drive with a toyota mechanic. "He couldn't feel anything". I asked them to check for play in the usual places anyway. In the end they told me it was minor play in the lower control arm on the drivers side and replaced it. Couple of days later I felt it again, albeit somewhat improved. I haven't felt it since BUT...

Summer 2019, third brake light leaks now! Raining from the headliner when I went through the car wash! Now fixed TWICE because the first time they say it somehow got disconnected and that's why it no longer leaked but also no longer functioned. Had to replace it again because its literally a stick on light. Getting rather irritated at this point...and now...

Fall 2019, my vibes have been getting worse. Some rumble strip feeling while braking from higher speeds but only after I slow down a fair bit. Like just before you take your foot off the brake, just before you commit to a turn for example. General buzziness felt in the wheel and occasionally the gas pedal, that only improves slightly when I go more than 80kmh/50mph. Shudder in the back at 80kmh/50mph. Thinking about taking it in again but man, I feel like I need a room there.

Any ideas WTF my latest issue might be? I feel like if I don't know enough about what it could be when I go in they'll just tell me its fine. I think I've had 6 warranty claims so far. I don't think they're happy to see me anymore lol. Is there some common element that could explain the weird popping sensation and the more common causes of the vibes? Finally wondering if the shims they use to silence the leaf spring squeak could change the angles back there enough to mess with the driveshaft. I think my truck looks badass but apart from that I'm majorly losing faith in all other aspects...

 

I’m only about a month into ownership of my ‘19 SR5. The driveline vibration that’s described perfectly by the TSB had me a bit worried but now that I know it’s just a Tacoma thing, I’ll live with it. Other than that, it’s been good. I’ve only got about 900 miles on it so far and am planning on a quick 1500 mile trip to NC and back next month.

All in all, I love the thing. I came into this from an 07 F150 FX4 that I really liked until I found out that the frame had rusted to a dangerous level. I’d been spraying it with FluidFilm every fall but the POS rusted from the inside out. I won’t give Ford another dime given the general reaction of ‘ya, that happens’. I’m hoping for a better long term experience with the Taco than I had with the F150. That was going to be my keeper truck and it looked new from 15 feet. We used to kid about Ford standing for ‘Found on road dead’ and I can now fully understand that jibe.

 

I’m taking my ‘19 taco in to the dealer this evening and dropping off with them to perform an axle replacement and “other parts” according to my service advisor. When we were talking and he was describing my complaints to the tech, he mentioned the tech said “wow, he must’ve read the service bulletin.”

Thing is my invoice/report I was provided with from the initial visit that prompted the parts order and today’s service drop off does not state anything about a service bulletin. Just that parts are ordered. So since they are doing an axle replacement, I can only assume they are following the instructions per T-SB-0023-19.

I contacted my service advisor once I returned home and brought up this TSB (0171). He wanted to act like I didn’t really know what I was talking about and, more or less, said that they have to follow a certain procedural order and can’t just go replacing parts, willy nilly.

Based on what I’ve read about 0023, it looks like I may be back at the service dept in another 1500-2000 miles for the same issue. At which point I will bring this TSB up yet again.

 

Sounds about right. They acknowledge that there is a problem. Fix it according to their procedure and when the fix doesn't work they deny anything is wrong and that it's normal.

 

If anyone has any questions about fighting the dealers about driveline vibration feel free to PM me. I’ve been through it and it was hell!

 

Well, I got my truck back today. As of right now, after driving it back an hour+ from the dealership, the vibration feels to be gone.
Here’s a copy of the invoice I received upon pick up of the truck. Still no mention of a repair done based on TSB. Although, that’s what my service advisor stated the tech had essentially done and also stated that this particular tech was familiar with this issue and had dealt with it before. When I said, “hopefully this takes care of it,” (feeling unsure if it would based on what I’ve read), he said “well this may give you a little more piece of mind. You have a 5 year/50k mile drivetrain warranty and an issue such as this is covered under that.”
Not exactly what I was wanting to hear but good to know that it has a longer warranty life than the 3 yr/36k mile deal.

 

If you go to my Toyota and look up your taco it will show your the service history.

It looks like the same as what was done to mine. The vibration came back after about 500 miles. Good luck!

 

Thank you! I will do that.

500 miles is when I first noticed it after purchasing the truck too.

 

my buddy and I both had 06 and 07 Tacoma 4x4's. Both vibrated a little bit. Was hesitant to buy a 19 but after two long test drives, liked it. Mine is good, no vibes, its a 19 limited built in Jan of 19. Buddy liked mine so much, he sold his 07 and test drove a few that vibrated and finally found one that didnt. It was a 19 limited built in Nov of 18. After a short while, it vibrated. Dealer did steering wheel damper, then leaf springs, then did the diff stuff, new axles, drums and it still vibrated and they told him there was nothing else they could do for him. So he was bummed and sold it. Mine now has 5K miles on it, still no vibes. Bottom line, some vibrate, some dont. Both are stock suspension and tire/wheel wise.

 

Geeez..... I have been thinking about buying another Tacoma but reading this thread has me seriously considering the alternatives.

 

Torque converter is also an issue for some people. Get OVTune and a ECGS clamshell bushing if you are lifting the truck and getting bigger tires. Or buy a ridgeline, what do I know...

 

Had to take my 2019 in for this. They replaced both rear axles, hubs, and all bearings.

 

Currently have my truck in the dealer to see about this vibration as well. Waiting for them to get back to me on their findings. 2019 TRD OR DCSB.

 

I would like your collective input, please -

I will add my 17 Sport DCLB AT (15,000 miles) to the vibration (x 2) list. My vibration is from the rear only - steering wheel is fine, no shakes, no hum, no whine.
Vib#1) Vibration in seat, floor, & center console. Over time, it appears to have become worse - it feels more like a hop, especially at 48mph (vibration starts @ 35mph) while maintaining speed under a light load, such as going uphill.
Vib#2) I have that "gravelly" feel when coasting/slowing down to a stop between 30 - 20mph.

I've had it back to the dealer five times, most recently this past week with the regional Toyota Field Service Tech (TFST).
The dealer has rotated and balanced tires (no vibe change), checked u-joint torque, driveshaft angle, and replaced rear cab mounts under T-SB-0013-18 and told me a month ago "there's nothing more we can do".
The TFST had it overnight at the dealership this past week, presumably checking the same angles, etc. He hooked up his laptop under the dash and we went for a drive, with me driving. On smooth roads, we got the 48mph hop, which he "sort of" acknowledged - I felt confident that Toyota would finally try replacing something drivetrain/suspension related in an effort to fix vibration.

But alas . . . no. Based on the road test/laptop, TFST said my Tacoma is operating "within normal tolerances".

So after reading many posts these last few days, here is what I tried today at 48mph -

1. Switched gear selector from "D" to "S" - this kicked up the engine rev's to over 2,000rpm, with no change in vibration.
2. Put the truck into 4H and back into 2H - no change in vibration.

The input I would like to receive -

1. If you have the same 48-50mph vibration/hop, did your dealer do/replace anything to try to fix it ? Even if the fix didn't work, please let me know.
2. Has anyone tried putting a GoPro camera under their truck to maybe see if something is visibly moving/jumping/hopping while driving ?